This class is a service learning class. This means that each student gets to participate in a group project where we get to be an advocate for a minority group. During the time in class so far we have discussed the many different types of oppression that go on in our society. I think most people believe that because of the equal opportunity act, the ending of slavery or the laws against discrimination that these things are not a problem. They are very prevalent in our society even today. I have chose to be an advocate for the LGBT community. This video is AMAZING and it is my hope that our brothers and sisters that struggle with this so much may find peace, love and acceptance. I am a heterosexual, non LDS female, and I feel that this video best represents how I feel in my heart about this issue.
I am a student at Salt Lake Community College. I am in a class called Social Health and Diversity; it is a service learning class. This means that I have participated in volunteering my time to an oppressed group of people to better myself and my community by becoming an advocate. I have worked hard to speak up and do my very best to support this group not only during my time with them, but more importantly in my daily and personal life. This experience has made me a better human being, I am privileged in many ways and through my education I believe if I am aware of this privilege I can better help my fellow human beings who lack the privilege I am given.
In this service learning class I have chose to do work with the sexual minorities in my community. I am an advocate for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals. I will be sharing thoughts, feelings and what I have learned from this experience.
Change Present & Future
My experience has been rewarding because I see the need for support from heterosexual people. If people develop compassion and understanding it will pave the way for greater acceptance. I volunteered at the Pride festival for 2 shifts. Since it’s beginning in Utah in 1990, the first Pride parade had about 200 people in attendance. This year, 2012 there were over 250,000 people in attendance. I was assigned to work in the Vodka Lounge. I have experience working in bars for many years and can imagine this is why I was placed. I was in the “Club Clean” crew. I made sure that empty cups made it to recycling bins and tables were nice and clean. It was great because I had the opportunity to talk to many people.
I worked with a man that showed me a video of the students who received “The Courage Award” for coming out at Brigham Young University. BYU has been historically known as one of the most unfriendly Universities for LGBT student for many years. This experience really touched me because I have had many friends growing up who really struggled with being Latter Day Saints and being gay. There is a video I encourage anyone struggling with these issues to watch http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=19888052 . It is amazing and gives great support I feel for kids dealing with these issues. Traditionally in the LDS faith there has been no room for acceptance, only repentance for “dealing” with this issue. I have been told by my LDS friends “you either choose to be happy and be true to yourself or you choose God. God does not accept gay people.” This is a major reason I feel like being an advocate for this group. My belief is that God loves all of his children. At Pride this year over 300 straight LDS members marched in the parade, in their Sunday best, right behind the Grand Marshall. “Mormons Building Bridges” is working to educate and gain acceptance within the LDS church. Dustin Lance Black a famous writer for “Big Love” on HBO was the Grand Marshall. He believes that “telling our story” is the key to acceptance. One thing gays and Mormons have in common, Black said, is "our desire for family, our desire to raise families, our desire to have our families and our children protected and respected in the country and when they go to school." This experience was extremely rewarding as I have had many struggles myself growing up in Utah not being LDS.
I interviewed a 75 year old lesbian woman who I will call Jane. She said “growing up in the 50’s was in some way more accepting because it was quiet, “don’t ask, don’t tell”. In the last 20 years this has changed so much, I worry about the safety of my brothers and sisters.” I asked if there was something positive for the future. With teary eyes the answer was “I never thought I would see the day come where the LGBT community would have the support of the President of the United States.”
There has been an overwhelming number of homeless LGBT transients who cannot get help. Prior to the recent implementation of adding the protections for LGBT identified people to the Fair Housing Act, access to emergency and transitional housing was limited to a small portion of the available resources. Discriminatory practices and facilities not being suitable, with staff desensitized and untrained for the homeless residents of the LGBT Community. The recent regulatory changes brought about by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Obama Administration, presented in 2010 and mandated January 2012, bring fresh hope to social justice advocates in bringing parity to those individuals in the LGBT Community that are homeless, especially towards those that are trans-identified.
Struggles
My experience has also been challenging due to the fact that I am a recovering addict. In this community I feel there are many addiction struggles as well. In my experience addictions stems from not feeling accepted, feeling unhappy and unloved.
I am a graduate of Odyssey House; I have been sober for four years. Meth addiction is very prominent in the gay community here in Utah. I believe this is due to heightened feelings of euphoria, sexual desire and acceptance. This experience was also difficult for me because like most Meth addicts, you put off “everything is great and happy image” but inside you’re in complete despair. When you’re not high the sadness is unbearable. Utah has one of the highest rates of teen suicide in the nation; we have a very high number of young LGBT people who are also struggling with addiction. Many of the teens in the outreach programs and the highest number of new AIDS cases in Utah are 20 something’s, male, meth addicts. Once you have been an addict you can very easily spot people with similar struggles. At Pride there were a lot of intoxicated people, having fun and being rowdy. The other side of this was a man and woman having sex in public while their 3 children sat on a bench in front of them. This specific experience was challenging for me because of all the things that came to mind. What are the children’s lives like? The mom clearly in love with a bi-sexual man, are they having safe sex? Is the woman's emotional health suffering by being in love with a gay man?
I believe that continued education and acceptance by heterosexual communities, churches, and ethnic groups will help to address some of these other issues. I believe that this community struggles with issues like this which is not the norm, but then someone who is judgmental sees this and makes this the norm for the LGBT community. It is harder for people to make these assumptions once they “know” someone. In speaking with some of the people I worked with it seemed to be a unanimous feeling that people are much more willing to learn when it becomes personal. A close friend, brother or family member comes out and this experience teaches them something too.
Education
During one of my volunteer days I was able to work at the Pride Center booth at the Farmers Market. This was all about education. There is a group called “Sage” it is dedicated to the LGBT community over 50. This group is working towards greater acceptance and compassion for the elderly who have lived their life “out” of the closet and then find that going into a care center or assisted living they must once again hide who they are. There has not been much acceptance or support for this age group either. I was able to offer education information on women's health. I volunteered with two other people who were awesome; both stated that Utah has come a long ways in the past several years. Salt Lake and Sugarhouse are the friendliest communities for Gay and Lesbian couples. I found that working to educate people also helps to remove some fears that people have about the LGBT community. I learned that having support from heterosexual people is the key to acceptance with in all communities. I have learned that I will continue to practice, participate and use my voice to speak out for equality for all people. While volunteering I wore a button that said “HUMAN” I believe this is what it is about. I think this is a terrific word for how I feel. This experience has been extremely rewarding, it has helped me to learn about myself and the humanitarian issues that I strongly support.
